One of the themes I’ve found myself writing about recently in my reviews has been the relationships between friends and family, specifically how friends are family members that we choose for ourselves. The individuals who can transcend laughs and tears - they are the people that you marry and begin families of your own with. These are the individuals that you begin lifelong brotherhood and sisterhoods with. These are the friends you give the term family too.
You’ll always have your blood family, but sometimes they don’t always understand what you’re going through. Typically the friends who grow to become family do understand what you’re going through. Nine times out of ten, they have experienced it themselves. They become pillars for your own mental health and oftentimes can help you achieve breakthroughs. The old saying goes “blood is thicker than water”, meaning the blood of the covenants that you create among friends will always be stronger than the water of the womb.
This isn’t always the case, but oftentimes it is. Sometimes even something like time doesn’t have an effect on the relationship if the bond is truly strong. The core relationship of the martial arts film, The Paper Tigers, explores this very notion. The film tells the story of three friends (Alain Uy, Ron Yuan, Mykel Shannon Jenkins) who grew up together studying Kung Fu. After twenty-five years of distance, they reunite to solve the mystery of their mentor’s death.
Tigers has to be one of the most heartfelt and wholesome films that 2021 has offered. It has a narrative and themes that, even in a modern day film, feel timeless. Writer/director Quoc Bao Tran does a terrific job at presenting a compelling collection of characters who grew up and were separated by time. Each character has an arc of how that separation has affected them. Uy plays Danny “8 Hands”, who was once the leader of the small group. Uy grew up to leave and get a normal job and family. There are even a few scenes between him and his son that explore potential shame for his time in Kung fu.
Jenkins plays Jim, who also turns his back on the practices in an effort to begin a career in the world of boxing and MMA, while Yuan plays Hing, the only one who actually stayed with his mentor and practiced. The mixture of all three of these arcs crafts a rather unique fish out of water story. Three characters coming back into a world they haven’t been in for twenty-five years. This mixture allows the film to have some of the best comedic moments, along with some very heartfelt scenes.
Honestly, watching these characters grow back into their former glory has to be one of the strongest weapons this film possesses. Uy, Yuan, and Jenkins all have incredible chemistry. This film wouldn’t work if Tran didn’t lay the emotional foundation for these characters. It’s also extremely rewarding to see the payoffs from each of their journeys. There is hardly any performance wasted in Tigers. Every performance is top tier. Even the side character of Carter (Matthew Page) - initially met as comic relief, he quickly grows into a cornerstone of the story, once again proving that Tigers will try to use every performance to their advantage.
The only down side of this story are the characters of the wife (Jae Suh Park) and son (Joziah Lagonoy) of Uy. The film sets them up to be an important part of the film at first, but as the film transitions into its second act, and subsequently into its third act, these characters feel like an afterthought. It comes to a point where Uy’s character doesn’t even feel connected to them. Both actors still deliver good performances. This complaint actually comes from how the narrative deals with them. Aside from these characters, the film serves as a beautiful love letter to the martial arts movies of the 70s and 80s. It is a beautiful representation of what these films are capable of. Great action, tremendous heart, and compelling story.
Overall, The Paper Tigers is a delight from start to finish. It is a unique take on both the martial arts subgenre and fish out of water stories. The action is solid. The comedy is strong. The heart of the film and its wholesome approach to storytelling are the true testament of strength. The Paper Tigers is without a doubt one of the best films of the year. Can not recommend it enough.
RORSCHACH RATING:
Mental Health Moment: Early in the film when Hing and Danny reconnect, there is a sense of mystery as to where Jim is. As the film progresses we learn that there was a falling out between Danny and Jim specifically. So much so, in fact, that the two didn’t want to talk to one another. I’ve been both the source of hurt to others and vice versa both in my own family and my friend circles. I’ve lost relationships that I cherished deeply for the same reason Danny and Jim stopped talking. Some relationships have healed from those wounds but never quite returned to the same strength prior to the hurt. Relationships are a huge boost for our mental health. Surrounding ourselves with the right people can mean taking steps towards things like therapy, quitting a source of addiction and honestly growing to be a better person, all of which have an enormous impact on our mental health.
There is a scene towards the end of the film’s second act where all three characters are sitting around watching home movies from when they grew up together, slowly coming to the realization of how important the brotherhood they’ve built for themselves truly is. When was the last time you thought about your community and those whom you surround yourself with? How do they impact you? How do they impact your mental health?
If you or someone you know is reading this right now and struggling with suicide, depression, addiction, or self-harm - please reach out. Comment, message, or tweet at us. Go to victimsandvillains.net/hope for more resources. Call the suicide lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Text "HELP" to 741-741. There is hope & you DO have so much value and worth!
Victims and Villains is written (and produced) by Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey and others, and edited by Cam Smith. Music by Mallory Johnson and others. The Paper Tigers is property of Well Go USA. We do not own nor claim any rights.
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